Adarsh Samalopanan, a vice-president at Yes Bank, added a personal twist to the growing debate over L&T's 90-hour work week controversy.
Sharing a story about his roommate's job interview with L&T, Samalopanan revealed how even a passion like basketball turned into a deal during the company's recruitment process.
During campus placements, his friend faced a dilemma when the interviewer asked, “If you promise to quit basketball and devote all your time to studying, I'll hire you.”
His friend, who was the captain of his college basketball team, confidently replied, “Sir, don't you think that by keeping me healthy through sports, I will be able to serve the team in the long run?” He said sports taught him to deliver results under tight deadlines, valuable skills for a role at L&T.
Despite his argument, Samalopan's friend refused. Years later, reflecting on the interview amid a 90-hour work week, he joked, “Bye, I should have told them I quit basketball and even worked on Sundays.”
Central Trade Unions (CTUs) on Tuesday condemned Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan's statement, advocating an extension of working hours to 90 hours per week and allowing employees to work on Sundays instead of “looking after their wives”. suggested. .
L&T later clarified that the statement reflected a broader ambition to develop India, which drew widespread criticism from various groups, including women's rights activists, for its tone and implications for work-life balance.
The Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) compared Mr Subramanian's comments to Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy's earlier proposal for a 70-hour work week, calling it part of a “rogue competition” among corporate leaders to exploit workers.
CITU general secretary Tapan Sen has criticized the proposal, highlighting its negative impact on workers' health and social life, especially as Indian workers already work longer hours than in countries like China and Europe, and former Bharatiya Masdoor Sangh leader Virjesh Upadhyay of the United States has also condemned the proposal. The statement calls it against the principles of human dignity and work-life balance. Emphasizing the need for equality and humane working conditions, he questioned the fairness of such measures from people earning significantly more than the average worker.